Amonte’s Goal Decisive for Blackhawks

Thirty hours after becoming a father for the first time, Tony Amonte delivered for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Amonte scored with 2:18 remaining as Chicago defeated the Vancouver Canucks, 3-2, Monday night at Chicago in a game in which the Canucks’ Mark Messier bcae the fourth-highest scorer in NHL history.

“I’m going to dedicate that one to Ty,” said Amonte, whose wife, Laurie, gave birth at 4:15 p.m. Sunday. “Now it’s tough. I’ve got to do it with every kid, and she’s still talking five.”

Messier set up Pavel Bure’s power-play goal at 8:11 of the third period and moved past Phil Esposito on the career list with 1,591 points. Only Wayne Gretzky (2,750), Gordie Howe (1,850) and Marcel Dionne (1,771) rank ahead of him.

New York Rangers 3, Toronto 2--Wayne Gretzky set up three goals at New York and rookie goaltender Dan Cloutier remained undefeated in three decisions.

Gretzky, the NHL’s all-time points and assists leader, set up a first-period goal by Pat LaFontaine and second-period scores by Niklas Sundstrom and Adam Graves as the Rangers defeated the Maple Leafs for the seventh consecutive time.

Montreal 6, Tampa Bay 3--Vincent Damphousse had a short-handed goal and four assists in leading the Canadiens past the Lightning at Tampa, Fla.

The Canadiens scored five times in the first period, with Damphousse getting one goal and setting up three others.

Damphousse has four goals and eight assists during a five-game scoring streak.

Boston 1, New Jersey 1--Patrik Elias scored 5:26 into the third period as the Devils forged a tie with the surging Bruins at Boston.

Sergei Samsonov scored for the Bruins, who extended their undefeated streak to six games (3-0-3), while the Devils moved past Philadelphia for the best record in the Eastern conference.

Byron Dafoe, 3-0-2 in Boston’s last five games, stopped 32 shots by the Devils, and Martin Brodeur had 31 saves for the Devils.

Pittsburgh 4, Carolina 1--Ron Francis scored two goals, including the winner with 8:59 left, at Greensboro, N.C.

Jaromir Jagr, the NHL’s third-leading scorer, assisted on both of Francis’ goals and iced the game with his 21st goal of the season with 2:28 left.

Francis, a 17-year veteran, warded off a Carolina defenseman with one arm and shot with the other to beat goalie Trevor Kidd with 8:59 left in the game.

Keith Primeau scored for the seventh time in the last eight games as the Hurricanes tied the Penguins, 1-1, early in the final period.

New York Islanders 1, Detroit 1--The Islanders ended their 10-game losing streak, tying the Red Wings at Uniondale, N.Y., behind rookie goaltender Wade Flaherty.

Flaherty had 30 saves. He made his second start in a row since being recalled from the minors Friday.

Edmonton 2, St. Louis 1--Dan McGillis scored the go-ahead goal at Edmonton on a power play with 5:20 left in the third period and the Oilers extended their season-high winning streak to four games.

The Oilers, who trailed, 1-0, after 40 minutes, scored twice in the third period. The Blues, who had won four in a row, are 0-3 against the Blues this season.

Colorado 3, Florida 1--Joe Sakic scored a short-handed goal and Jari Kurri scored on a power play at Denver.

The Avalanche defeated Florida in Denver for the first time since moving three years ago from Quebec.

Goaltender Patrick Roy made 29 saves for the Avalanche.

Dallas 3, San Jose 1--Joe Nieuwendyk and Jere Lehtinen had power-play goals and Dallas gave up only 15 shots at San Jose, ending a five-game losing streak against the Sharks.

Nieuwendyk’s 19th goal of the season broke a 1-1 tie early in the third period.